Philosophy 328  Environmental Ethics

Spring Semester 2012 | Day | Burnaby

INSTRUCTOR   S. Black, WMC 5608

TEXT

• Climate Ethics: Essential Readings, Stephen M, Gardiner, Simon Caney, Dale Jamieson, Henry Shue (eds.)
• various PDF downloads from the library collection

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This is an intermediate level course in environmental ethics. The main text focuses on the moral responsibility of individuals and the state to respond to climate change. Essays from that collection will comprise about half of the course. The remaining half will examine the moral status of the non-human natural environment. Everyone agrees that in so far as the natural environment sustains human--and perhaps animal welfare--it possesses instrumental value. But does it also possess non-instrumental value and of a kind that a theory of justice should protect? To explore that question we will investigate possible parallels between the natural environment and precious works of art. We will also consider whether languages and cultures threatened with extinction possess an importance that is not reducible to the welfare of their members. This portion of the course will require students to download electronic materials. As should be clear from this description this course is NOT a survey of contemporary environmental ethics. For a useful survey of the field it is recommended that students take ENV 399

 FORMAT

• Two lectures per week for a total of three hours.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

• Three short assignments - 30%
• One 2500 work paper - 40%
• One final exam - 30%

Note: Prerequisite: PHIL 120W. Students who have complete PHIL 318 may not take this course for further credit.

Note: No Nonsense Paper Policy: In the interest of preserving a level playing field students submitting late papers without prior arrangement or a doctor's note will be penalized. Students caught plagiarizing or otherwise cheating will normally be recommended for suspension from the university.